PA Conservtive Council Newsletter

Pennsylvania Conservative Council Newsletter

• The Necessity for Action
• Heartburn at the Desert Moon Cafe
• Comment & Counter Committee
• Rep. Curt Schroder Talks About the Stimulus
• Upcoming Events

"Government ‘help’ to business is just as disastrous as government persecution… the only way a government can be of service to national prosperity is by keeping its hands off."?
Ayn Rand

To contact the Pennsylvania Conservative Council’s Executive Committee. Please use the following email addresses.
Executive Director(s)
Sean
[email protected]

Tania
[email protected]

Administrative Director
Jason
[email protected]

(Interim) Communications Director
Karl Bucus

Project Director
Summer
[email protected]

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The Necessity for Action
by Rep. Samuel E. Rohrer, PA-128th District
The danger of being number 10 is that no one really knows who you are. George Washington was our first president; but how many can name number 10 off the top of their head? And Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to climb Everest, but does anyone know who the tenth person was to reach the summit?
And then consider our amendments to the United States Constitution: most of us know the 1st Amendment verbatim, but do you know what the Tenth Amendment says?
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Sometimes thought of as an afterthought, to "sweep up" anything the Founders may have forgotten, the 10th Amendment today is taking on monumental importance as increasing federal intrusion into state affairs threatens to completely destroy the balance between state and federal power.
In the Federalist Papers, authors Jay, Madison, and Hamilton labored to convince a monarch-shy colonial population that they needed a strong government to preserve a free, cohesive nation. The authors took pains to outline how the Constitutional structure of the government would prohibit the federal government from becoming big enough to overwhelm the powers of both the states and the democratic process. The 10th Amendment was foundational to this system of checks and balances, constitutionally restricting the federal government to covering issues related to commerce, national defense, the postal system, and the like.
"Power begets power," though, as the saying goes, and the federal government slowly began expanding its powers. One of the most effective and insidious ways that the federal government has taken over control of state affairs is by first passing a mandate and then offering federal money to states with significant strings attached.
Whether the issue is welfare, Real ID, No Child Left Behind, or health insurance programs, tantalizing packages have been dangled in front of state governors and legislators, promising to stop the budget gap or expand a politically successful program. States have taken the money, and over time, the requirements and restrictions on those state funds have slowly but surely changed the direction of state policy.
Instead of developing programs to fit the needs of state citizens and altering them to best use the state resources, programs are instead clumsily built around the federal funding requirements, so the state does not lose a single available dollar. This significant paradigm shift should be a wake-up call to every citizen not only in Pennsylvania, but also across the nation.
Therefore, because the Supreme Court allowed the federal government to offer funds on conditions, states have subjected themselves to Washington. This submission completely distorts the checks and balances inherent in our Constitution, and enshrined in the 10th Amendment.
In order to raise awareness of this improper delegation of power, I have joined with representatives, senators, Democrats, and Republicans from over 30 states and introduced a resolution into the Pennsylvania General Assembly that reaffirms Pennsylvaniaâ?™s constitutional powers under the 10th Amendment. This 10th Amendment Resolution (House Resolution 95) is little more than a restatement of the last amendment to the Bill of Rights, reminding state legislatures that the federal government must no longer be allowed to commandeer our rightful authority.
As difficult as it is to believe someone could oppose a resolution as plain as reaffirming a basic tenet of our Constitution, sadly, opposition is too often the case in our state legislatures. This issue, however, is gaining traction among American citizens who are unwilling to sit back while Washington blatantly ignores their voices.
Supporting the 10th Amendment Resolution is a grassroots effort if ever there was one. I encourage you to spread the word and contact your family, friends and relatives, in and out of Pennsylvania, and encourage them to speak up. This issue will not go away—and it gives a voice to those who have grown frustrated and disillusioned with our federal government.
The 10th Amendment Resolution simply yet powerfully affirms our belief in the constitutional structure of our government. Join me today in that affirmation.
Rep. Rohrer will be holding the "10th Amendment Rally for the State of Independence" on Monday, March 16 at noon in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. Please make plans to join him there. Visit www.samrohrer.com for more information.

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Heartburn at the Desert Moon Cafe
Is it just me, or do we now have way more politics in the public space now that the Democrats are in charge?
Take Desert Moon Cafe at the Main Street at Exton development. They are offering an Obama burrito. Is it as imposing as weightlifter’s forearm, but filled with ephemeral Fluffer-Nutter? Actually, no. According to the manager, it is a playful allusion to the fact our new president likes chili: It is a burrito with rice, chili, beans, and sour cream. Not supposed to be political at all.
They are a private business. We certainly respect their rights to serve what they want. But we would also encourage them to be better prepared should a customer inquire about it. Extolling the virtues of Communism, as one of their employees recently did, is probably not such a good idea.
First, for the idealistic lad, we should warn him that his manager didn’t think it was a very good idea, either. She’ll be having a talk with you! Also, she will be inviting you to have lunch with one of our members, who would like to share the following figures, from the Little Black Book of Communism. They represent estimates of the number of people murdered by Communist regimes:
• 150,000 in Latin America
• 1 million in Vietnam
• 1 million in the Communist states of Eastern Europe
• 1.7 million in Africa
• 2 million in North Korea
• 2 million in Cambodia
• 20 million in the Soviet Union
• 65 million in the People’s Republic of China
But what we have here is not just about the failures of our educational system to teach students about the Gulag, or the Cultural Revolution. A failure, mind you, the PACC is happy to try to remedy, although it really shouldn’t be our job.
We also have, it seems, an increase the frequency of insertion of politics into places like restaurants, concert halls, and even churches. National Review’s Jay Nordlinger has done wonderful work compiling examples of this phenomenon here.
Inevitably, it seems the politics are left wing. Now, is this a case of sour grapes? Our guys lost, and their guys won, so now we’re whining? Well, maybe a little, but that first presumes our guys even ran. Would it be different if we were in a red county in Texas? Well, maybe. But it seems unlikely. Southerners have a reputation of minding their manners.
And that is where Mr. Nordinger gets a little bemused. He doesn’t insert his politics into daily life. Most of the conservatives I know have many friends who don’t share their political views, and generally avoid trying to proselytize to these friends. It’s just not polite.
Similarly, it is not very polite of Desert Moon Cafe to potentially alienate a large part of their clientele. Since the Obama burrito was apparently a corporate decision, I guess they are unaware this particular restaurant is located in a county in which 47% of the electorate pulled the lever for John McCain. They are also probably unaware that, even in last year’s election, Chester County had more straight-ticket Republican voters than Democrat ones.
One is reminded of the apocryphal story regarding critic Susan Sontag’s remarks following the Presidential election of 1972: How could Nixon have won? She didn’t know anyone who voted for him.
Well, what the folks at Desert Moon Cafes corporate offices may not understand is this: They don’t know anyone who didn’t vote for Barack Obama because maybe, just maybe, conservative voters are just more polite.
Which brings us back to Communism, actually. The young fellow doesn’t know it, but he’s already well on his way to having a personality that would be right at home in a Communist dictatorship.
Mr. Nordlinger relays a quote from a conservative classical musician, commenting how he feels when hearing left-wing politics from the conductors podium:
For me, it is perhaps even worse, because it brings back all the stench of Communist propaganda, which filled my early years. Now the same thing is creeping into everyday American life. Sick, sick, sick.
We allow that what is happening in American life now is different in degree to what is typical of despotic regimes. But the voluntary urge to publicly declare one’s allegiance to prevailing political pieties just smellsâ??off. It doesn’t seem typical of the classic American character: Polite, firm, and charitable, yet individualistic.
Please, though, don’t blame Desert Moon Cafe in Exton. They can’t control it. And we probably won’t be able to convince their corporate office to dispense with invading our public space with politics. But perhaps we can do the next best thing, and get them to offer a Pat Toomey burrito when he runs against Specter in the primary.

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Comment and Counter Committee
Please let me know if anyone would be interested and/or have time to write an LTE this coming week. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions for topics they’d like to see written about this week. We are always open to new ideas.
Reminder: Our next meeting will be Sunday, March 22, 2009 directly following the regular PACC meeting. We will meet for approximately 30 minutes. New members are always welcomed. We value everyone’s opinions and look forward to any new ideas. Remember even if you don’t like to write you may have some terrific ideas we can use for our LTE’s. Please plan on joining us.

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Rep. Curt Schroder Talks About the Stimulus
Is the stimulus bill good for southeastern Pennsylvania? For the whole Commonwealth? We doubt it. We recently talked to Rep. Curt Schroder to see if he concurred.
Well, we know he doesn’t concur. He’s introducing legislation giving the General Assembly the option of refusing the money. Should they accept it, he is also introducing a bill that requires the Assembly to actually approve the transportation projects on which the money is spent.
Why would we decline the money? Why is it necessary to introduce legislation requiring a vote to disburse the funds? We wanted to find out, so we asked him.
PACC: The funding in the recent stimulus bill dedicated to infrastructure strikes many people as the type of federal spending that could make sense. We have infrastructure problems, and it seems like it could keep some folks employed. Do you agree, in theory?
CS: Well, we certainly have some expensive projects here in Chester County that could use that sort of kick-start. The Rt. 30 bypass needs to be redesigned, Rt. 202 desperately needs an expansion, and there are a number of distressed bridges that could use attention. So my point is let’s make sure the money is used for needed, important projects. Not squandered.
PACC: Squandered? Why are you concerned about that?
CS: Well, first of all the legislation is written such that all the projects I just mentioned are currently ineligible for receipt of the funds.
PACC: Why is that?
CS: Well, the stimulus bill, in order to allegedly provide economic stimulus, only funds projects they call "Shovel Ready," which means unless the projects are ready to go in 90 days, they are not eligible. The only projects meeting that requirement are already in the TIP.
PACC: What’s the TIP?
CS: The Transportation Improvement Plan. Which is supposed to be the plan developed transparently that prioritizes and schedules for funding the Commonwealth’s most important infrastructure projects.
Funny thing is, all projects in the funding construction phase of TIP are ineligible for receipt of this Federal stimulus money. It creates a Catch-22 situation.
PACC: Let us get this straight: The infrastructure money in the stimulus bill, in Pennsylvania, can only be used for shovel-ready projects that could not make it into the plan prioritizing our most important infrastructure projects?
CS: And by definition there are few, if any, needed projects that are shovel-ready and not in the up front, funding stage of the TIP.
PACC: Seriously. You’re saying, by definition, the first projects to get funded with this money must, statutorily, not be amongst the Commonwealth’s most pressing needs. Why?
CS: Well, that’s a question for President Obama, and Democrats in Congress who wrote the legislation. And, perhaps, Governor Rendell. I couldn’t tell you, exactly. But I can tell you what the result seems to be: Chester County is getting some maintenance paving projects, and a trail. That’s it!
All the important projects will remain in the regular process, subject to the limits imposed by what I think we all know will be a very difficult and potentially acrimonious budget debate.
PACC: So is this why, as we have heard, this stimulus money seems to be largely bypassing Chester County?
CS: Exactly.
PACC: Could this be a potential source of corruption?
CS: For the Federal government to put future generations deeper into debt could be considered corruption on its face.
PACC: How can we fix this?
CS: Well, first of all I want to give the General Assembly an opportunity to decline the stimulus money altogether. There are going to be funding requirements that come with this money that will still be there long after the Federal cash stops flowing. The stimulus bill itself contains language giving state Governors the opportunity to override their state legislatures and accept these funds, even if those legislatures decline the money. We want to turn that around, and in Pennsylvania make the Governor abide by the General Assembly’s position.
PACC: Of course, it wouldn’t be shocking if that bill failed.
CS: Oh, it could pass. There’s more support for it than people might think. But if we do end up taking this money and giving up even more of our ability to run our own Commonwealth, I think we should enact legislation mandating that the disbursal of these potential infrastructure funds be subject to approval and votes by the General Assembly. Someone needs to make sure three quarters of a trillion dollars in taxpayer debt is at least put to productive use.
We can do our part of that by making sure the money is spent wisely on the Commonwealth’s most pressing infrastructure needs first.
PACC: Who could possibly object to oversight of the money itself? Seriously. How could anyone object to that?
CS: Well, from your lips to God’s ears. But remember, the governor has already rejected the idea of bipartisan oversight. He finds Republicans overseeing how he spreads around taxpayer dollars rather inconvenient. Makes you wonder!
(State Rep. Curt Schroder of Downingtown represents the 155th Legislative District.)

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Upcoming Events
Pennsylvania Conservative Council Meetings
Our upcoming general membership meetings are on the following dates, all at 1:30 PM in the West Chester Borough Building:
• March 22nd (Sunday) – Room #240
• April 11th – Council chambers
• April 25th – Council chambers
• May 9th – Council chambers
• May 23rd – Council chambers
West Chester Borough Building
Room #240
401 East Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19380
For directions, go to:
http://www.west-chester.com/directions.php
or for google map directions go to here.

7th Annual Chester County Friends of NRA Dinner Banquet
Date:
Saturday, March 14th, 2009
Time:
Doors open at 4:00pm – Dinner at 6:00pm
Location:
Red Clay Room @ Kennett FC,
Dalmatian St,
Kennett Square, PA
For more information visit the Upcoming Events Calendar

10th Amendment Rally for the State of Independence
Monday, March 16, at noon
Main Capitol Rotunda (500 N 3rd St)
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0001
2009 PA Leadership Conference
March 27-28, 2009
The 2009 Pennsylvania Leadership Conference will feature a number of speeches by national and statewide conservative leaders, interactive panel discussions, training seminars, and exhibits by a wide array of conservative organizations.
Speakers:
Michael Reagan
Pat Toomey, Club For Growth
Hon. Dick Armey, Freedom Works
Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform
PA Supreme Court Candidates
Future (and Current) Leaders

Chester County Action Breakfast
Saturday, May 16
8:45 – 10:45
The Sheraton Great Valley
Confirmed Speakers and Candidates:
Jackie Shogan, running for PA Supreme Court Justice
Ryan Shafik, Communications Director Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research www.lincolninstitute.org AND Co-Host American Radio Journal www.americanradiojournal.com
The cost is $25.00 for members, $30.00 for non-members and $150.00 per table.
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